Who Takes Care of HR’s Mental Health?

04
Mar 2022
736
A person is holding a paper smiley face in their hands

Author: Ada Tai, MBA, CPHR, SHRM-SCP

Recently, a small group of us working in human resources came together to address each other's challenges and celebrate success. This is an informal, self-directed group of HR practitioners who met a few years ago during a conference. When we met, we realized the commonalities of our struggles. Speaking of these struggles and hearing the advice of others, we learned how helpful it would be to have regular conversations. Immediately, we decided to meet periodically and infuse each gathering with positive, results-based energy. Gradually, we became each other’s “go-to” sounding boards. This has proven extremely helpful during the pandemic when everything is uncertain, and that the HR professionals are constantly firefighting and pivoting, having someone who can truly understand you and offering that social and professional support is critical.

This triggered my questions: Is everyone as lucky as me? When the going gets rough, who takes care of your psychological well-being?

Mental health is an important topic as we gradually uncover the effects of the past two years. HR professionals typically take on the role of workplace well-being advocates and are often the first point of contact when employee issues arise.

Standard wellness practices include:

  • Employee Family Assistance Program (EFAP)
  • Enhanced counselling benefits coverage
  • Employee Resource Groups (ERG)
  • Awareness and resiliency training
  • Series of programs such as work and life balance, flexible arrangements, (virtual) fun activities, etc.

However, for those of us who work in HR and for those who are at the forefront of resolving issues that are often confidential in nature, we can feel vulnerable when the standard practices may not help us. How should we take care of our own mental health?

Given my own experience, I summarized four optimal practices below.

  1. Making self-reflection a habit. 

According to the World Health Organization, “Mental health is fundamental to our collective and individual ability as humans to think, emote, interact with each other, earn a living and enjoy life. 1 ” For working professionals, the first step of maintaining health is becoming consciously aware of triggers and signs of fragility. Since becoming an entrepreneur, I have developed a habit of leaving 15 tranquil minutes for self-reflection every evening. It allows me to carefully review my thoughts, feelings and actions of the day, and helps me with personal growth and restoration of inner balance. Notably, I am learning to allocate some downtime, even if it means a quick walk around the block when I have reached my maximum mental capacity.

  1. Setting proper boundaries.

Very often, I hear professionals with a great passion for their work saying, “Yes, I will do that for you”, or “No problem, leave it with me.” It satisfies the needs of the person asking for support, but lengthens the already extended to-do list for the professionals. Yesterday I had a conversation with a lady who constantly works long hours and shows signs of burnout. I asked her to take five minutes to put together a list of tasks she had completed the week before. It was not until the moment when we reviewed the list together that she realized how many tasks were added to her plate at the last minute, and how many directions she was pulled in that were outside of the position she was hired to do. Make no mistake, we are not talking about someone who is lax or who needs to be pushed to finish the job. This is an over-achiever who strives to do more and blurred her boundaries by taking on what others asked her to do. The more she took on, the more others put on her plate. “When was the last time you said ‘no’ to someone?” was the question of the day for her.

  1. Focusing on priorities.

In my previous blog “ NEW YEAR, OLD RESOLUTION. Focus on your priorities in 2022 ”, I emphasized that when everything is a priority, then nothing is a priority. Setting the right boundaries for ourselves not only helps us manage demand, but it also makes us focus on our priorities. Because of the nature of my work, I am constantly engaged in many networking and volunteer activities. After analyzing the time I spent on various things in the previous year, I identified the targeted activities to continue to participate in given my availability and priorities for the year. It took a certain amount of mental preparation to turn down things that I was passionate about and involved in. Interestingly, after my calendar opened up a bit more, I actually became more productive and content.

  1. Creating your own support circle.

We want to be heard. We want to feel a sense of belonging with people who we trust and who can provide guidance or comfort. Our support circle can be formed by family, friends, people who we meet through volunteering and other activities. In the workplace, I find having mentors or people who have walked in our shoes as trusted allies to be helpful. By sharing our thoughts and hearing advice, we do not feel alone, and we are able to solve problems from a different perspective.

By age 40, half of Canadians have a mental illness, which accounts for 70% of all disability-related costs. 2 Mental balance means different things to different people. Although organizations strive to create a healthy and positive environment, we should be the ones who take care of ourselves by recognizing and defining our limits, and rejuvenating ourselves through what works the best for us.

REFERENCE

1 Mental health: strengthening our response. Retrieved from:

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-strengthening-our-response

2 CAMH’s Mental Health Playbook for Business Leaders. Retrieved from: https://www.camh.ca/-/media/files/wmh-pbook-130120-pdf.pdf

I see. I hear. I experience . is a column created by and written by Ada Tai, a chartered member of CPHR Alberta. The column is written in a blog format where Ada and invited co-authors will present their own experiences and interpretations of the world of human resources and its impact on business management. This and the subsequent posts are copyrighted materials by the author(s) and only reflect their personal views, not CPHR Alberta’s.

Author bio: With an MBA Degree, a CPHR, and an SHRM-SCP designation, Ada Tai has been working as an HR professional in a variety of industries for over a decade. Through her consulting firm, Ada and the team provide a variety of strategic and pragmatic management consulting services.  Ada’s public speaking skills have enabled her to be regularly invited to speak about HR, people management, career search, and networking topics throughout the province. She is also a well-respected Instructor at the University of Alberta and MacEwan University.

Contact information:

●        Website: www.badab101.com

●         LinkedIn: adatai or BadaB-Consulting-Inc

●        Facebook: badabconsulting

BadaB Consulting Inc. provides a wide range of human resources solutions, including Strategic HR and Succession Planning, Organizational Design & Development, Diversity & Inclusion Program, Merger & Acquisition Support, Recruitment, Skills Development Training, Compensation Design, Performance Management, Workplace Investigation, Policy Development, etc. Another specialty of BadaB’s services is a personal job search and career coaching. The team has effectively helped over 500 people to find work. 


The views and opinions expressed in this blog post belong solely to the original author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of CPHR Alberta.

The views and opinions expressed in this blog post belong solely to the original author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of CPHR Alberta.



2025 Year-End Message - Geordie MacPherson

By Jessica Jaithoo • December 17, 2025
As we close out 2025, I’m feeling genuinely proud of what CPHR Alberta has accomplished this year, and grateful for the members, volunteers, partners, and staff who made it possible. Together, we’ve continued to strengthen the value of the CPHR designation, expanded professional development opportunities, and deepened relationships with government, post-secondary institutions, and business leaders. This year also brought some milestones worth celebrating. We’re ending 2025 in a financially stable position, and our membership grew by 7% , which is a nice reminder that the HR community is thriving, and that we are still the kind of people others willingly choose to join. One of the most important pieces of work this year was launching our 2026–2028 Strategic Plan. This roadmap was shaped by member input, market research, and alignment with CPHR Canada’s national priorities. It’s the product of a truly collaborative process led by our Board and operations team, forward-looking, grounded in data, and practical in how it positions us for what’s next. At its core, the plan strengthens the HR profession and supports the people who drive it, reinforcing our commitment to a resilient and inclusive HR community. I encourage you to read it and see where we’re headed. View the Strategic Plan here. Our pursuit of self-regulation remains a priority, and our advocacy efforts this year continued to deepen relationships with government and position HR as a trusted profession. We’re making progress, ensuring HR’s voice is present in key policy conversations and recognized where it matters most. If nothing else, we are getting very good at showing up, staying thoughtful, and keeping the conversation moving forward. To build on this momentum, we’re currently recruiting two Chartered Members and up to one Public Members to join our Board. We’re looking for candidates with prior governance experience and strengths in areas such as strategic business leadership, financial management, legal expertise, or IDEA. It’s also important to us to have meaningful geographic representation from outside Calgary and Edmonton, because Alberta is bigger than two postal codes, and our Board should reflect that. You can learn more about the process and requirements through our blog , and I’d encourage you to apply or share the opportunity with someone who’d be a great fit. Applications close January 9, 2026. Chartered and Retired Members: Apply through your member portal Public Members: Contact Heather McMaster at hmcmaster@cphrab.ca for application details As the holiday season approaches, I hope you find time to rest, recharge, and take a moment to acknowledge what you’ve contributed this year, professionally and personally. Thank you for everything you do to advance the HR profession. I’m confident that, together, we’ll continue building something even stronger in 2026. And if your out-of-office message is already drafted, I respect the efficiency. Geordie MacPherson, CEC, CPHR, SHRM-SCP Chair, Board of Directors, CPHR Alberta

2025 Year-End Message - Ioana Giurca

By Jessica Jaithoo • December 17, 2025
As we close out 2025, I am proud to reflect on the incredible work our association has accomplished this year. With the support of CPHR Canada, we continue to strengthen a national network of over 33,000 HR practitioners and professionals, including more than 7,300 in Alberta. Our collaboration with provincial counterparts, post-secondary institutions, local chambers, and government partners remains central to promoting the value of hiring a designated professional and advancing consistent standards across Canada. This year, CPHR Alberta grew by 7%, with the majority of new members coming from students and emerging HR professionals—the future of our profession. Thank you to all our members for the work you do every day to elevate the profession. Operationally, 2025 was a year of engagement and impact. We hosted 76 events across Alberta, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut, welcoming over 6,300 attendees to workshops, roundtables, webinars, and community sessions. Complimentary events played a key role in sustaining access to learning and connection for our members. Our Annual Conference was a highlight, bringing together a sold-out audience, a fully booked exhibitor space, and earning strong satisfaction ratings with 77% of attendees rating their experience positively. Thoughtful planning is already underway for our 2026 Conference on June 2 and 3 at the BMO Centre in Calgary, where expanded attendee capacity, increased exhibitor space, and enhanced programming will elevate the experience for HR professionals across our jurisdiction. Through our marketing campaign, we focused on raising awareness of the strategic value a CPHR brings to organizations. The results speak for themselves with 10% of new members joined after seeing our campaign, and website traffic increased by 17%, averaging over 55,000 views per month. In 2025, CPHR Alberta navigated Ministry changes, new mandate letters, and changes to professional governance. The Professional Governance Act (PGA) was introduced in the Spring of 2025 and received royal assent in May. This was a long-awaited and important step forward. CPHR Alberta operations and the Board are at work reviewing the legislation and anticipating the incoming regulations. We have continued our focus in broader advocacy and engagement to promote the profession as a leading voice, valued partner and knowledge expert. Throughout the year, we deepened our existing relationships, built new ones, and partnered on impactful projects at various levels of government and with community partners. We look forward to continuing to highlight the significance and impact of the profession within our organizations and communities throughout 2026. Looking ahead, we are excited to implement our 2026–2028 Strategic Plan , continue rolling out our new member recognition program, and shine a spotlight on our incredible HR community at our Member Recognition Gala in April. We will also advance our work toward self-regulation, ensuring the HR profession is recognized and trusted for its impact on organizations and communities. I want to thank our incredible team at CPHR Alberta and the many volunteers who make our work possible. Your dedication ensures we deliver value to our members and advance the HR profession every day. Thank you also to our Board of Directors for their guidance and leadership throughout the year.  As the holiday season approaches, I wish you joy, rest, and time to celebrate your accomplishments. Together, we are shaping the future of HR—and I look forward to all we will achieve in 2026. Ioana Giurca, CEO, CPHR Alberta

An Update from your Board of Directors – November 2025

By Jessica Jaithoo • December 4, 2025
As the governing voice of CPHR Alberta, the Board of Directors meets quarterly to provide oversight and guidance in several key areas. The Board, alongside CPHR Alberta operations, continues to deliver on the association's strategic priorities developed in the 2020 strategic plan. To ensure transparency between our Board of Directors, members and key stakeholders, we are sharing post-meeting messages to inform the steps taken towards advancing our profession and ensuring a financially stable association. The Board of Directors met on November 27, 2025, and is proud to share the strong momentum we are experiencing across our community. The Board’s key messages are as follows: Membership Growth As of September 30, 2025, we reached 7,213 active members, a 7% year-over-year increase, with the majority coming from student and emerging HR professionals. This growth affirms the momentum of our HR profession and the impact of our student engagement initiatives. Professional Development Member participation remains strong with 53 events held year-to-date, with 5,013 attendees across workshops, roundtables, webinars, and community sessions. Our complimentary events have played a key role in sustaining engagement and access to learning. Annual Conference The Annual Conference was a heavy focus for the association in Q3. The sold-out event continues to bring together our community for valuable professional development and networking opportunities, creating a strong foundation for 2026. Attendees reported high satisfaction, with over 370 in attendance, and a sold-out exhibitor hall. “The CPHR conference was incredibly educational and inspiring. The speakers motivated me, and it was an experience I’ll never forget. I really enjoyed it, grew closer to my team, and I definitely want to attend again.” – 2025 Conference Attendee The 2026 event will be held at the BMO Centre, in Calgary on June 2 and 3 – with increased capacity, expanded exhibitor space, and enhanced programming will elevate the experience for all HR professionals across Alberta, NWT and Nunavut. Self-Regulation The Board continues to assess the implications of Alberta’s Professional Governance Act (PGA), including: Advocacy, legal, and governance impact assessments are being commissioned. Preliminary recommendations from management will be brought to the Board in March and June 2026, leading to a formal decision. Further information will be shared, when ready.  Future Vision Approved: 2026-2028 Strategic Plan Our new 2026–2028 Strategic Plan will be rolled out in December to all members. The 3-year Strategic Plan, crafted from member feedback, market research, and collaboration with CPHR Canada – aims to strengthen our profession’s influence, amplifies leadership, and creates pathways for all members to thrive. Fiscal Responsibility Our Q3 financial review remains on track for a balanced year-end forecast. The 2026 draft budget has been approved – aligning resources with our strategic priorities while maintaining a disciplined and responsible financial approach. Board Governance Our board continues to focus on good governance practice, ensure stability, clarity, and accountability across our organization. FCPHR Nominations A reminder that the prestigious Fellowship Award is open for nominations! This national program recognizes Chartered Professionals in Human Resources (CPHRs) who have made exemplary contributions to the HR profession. Recipients are granted recognition as a Fellow of the Chartered Professionals in Human Resources (FCPHR). Click here to learn more about the Fellowship Award, including the guidelines and completing your nomination. You can also download a copy of the nomination form here. The next Board meeting takes place in March 2026, after which we will again share our key messages. If you have any questions regarding these key messages or the Board of Directors, please contact chair@cphrab.ca . We welcome your feedback!
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